This was a day when Coventry City did the Football Association and the Premier League a favour they did not deserve.
This was a day when Coventry City reminded the vandals in those organisations that the traditions of the FA Cup do not need dismantling. This was a day when Coventry City reminded everyone what this wonderful competition can do to the sporting soul.
Even in heartbreaking defeat, this was a day when Coventry City gave true magic ti the FA Cup. But here is a thing. Those who tamper with this wonderful competition will - thanks to Coventry’s spirit, passion and eventual gut-wrenching pain - probably be smiling smugly right now.
With their three-goal fightback, Mark Robins’ side salvaged a weekend at Wembley that, until the final 20 minutes of normal time and extra time in this match, had been utterly uninteresting. Do not let Coventry’s remarkable resilience and desire camouflage the fact that these contests should not be played at Wembley.
It is easy to be torn on the issue, especially when seeing the emotional journey of these Coventry fans. And considering the mortgage the Football Association has to service, nothing is going to change for a long, long time. But the FA Cup semi-finals do not belong at Wembley, simple as that.
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And when they moved here, it was the start of the erosion of the traditions, which gathered more pace last week with the abolition of replays and the repositioning of the final to a slot that will be BEFORE the last round of Premier League fixtures.
Fantastic Coventry City and fantastic Coventry City alone made this Wembley weekend interesting. Any Manchester City supporters who decided against turning up to watch their tired team on Saturday - Pep Guardiola DID have a very valid point in his rant against the scheduling - could not be blamed.
Yes, plenty of people turned up to swell the FA coffers over these two days but one of the days was instantly forgettable and the other will only go down in history because of Manchester United’s meltdown - a meltdown which, undeservedly, did not cost them a place in the final and a meeting with Manchester City.
Hosting the two semi-finals at Wembley continues to cop criticism (PA)Actually, it would be unfair to Robins and his men to dwell on United’s capitulation in the last quarter of normal time - better to concentrate on a stunning Coventry riposte that left them deserving something worthier than a penalty shootout defeat.
After Ellis Simms had started the fightback, they were, to a man, quite magnificent and perhaps Robins will start getting the credit he deserves for the brilliant job he continues to do at the club.
Perhaps he will get a decent pay rise but, if not, perhaps the FA and the Premier League can send him a few quid. They should at least be sending a bottle of champagne his way. Because for the favour Robins did for them, they owe him and his brave, unlucky men big time.
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